Nutrition is a field that is always changing, so it’s not unusual for experts to find new information about foods that makes us question what we thought we knew. According to a new study from Sweden’s Uppsala University, drinking cow’s milk might be bad for your health. The results may not be true for everyone, but they are still important to think about.
Over 100,000 women took part in the study, which found that women who drank about 400ml of milk every day had a 5% higher chance of coronary heart disease. This risk went up with higher milk intake. For example, women who drank 600ml or 800ml of milk every day had a 14% and a 21% higher risk, respectively.
Interestingly, the study showed that the risk was mostly limited to women. This is probably because men and women handle lactose differently. The results also showed that picking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk did not lower the risk, since the harmful effects of milk were the same no matter how much fat was in it.
The researchers thought that these risks could be lowered by eating yoghurt instead of some milk. In this case, yoghurt may be better for your heart health because it includes fermented milk.
Professor Karl Michaëlsson, who wrote the study, stressed how important a good diet is for avoiding heart diseases. He said that the study showed a link between women who drink more than 300 ml of milk a day and a higher risk of ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction.
For some, the results may be scary, but it’s important to remember that cow’s milk is still a good source of calcium and protein. Instead of giving it up completely, you might want to think about other foods that you can eat as part of a healthy diet. There are more and more milk options now, which makes it easier than ever to choose what to eat properly.
